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Sharjah strengthens economic ties with Portugal

THE SHARJAH CHAMBER of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) received a highlevel Portuguese delegation, headed by Eurico Brilhante Dias, Portugal's Secretary of state for internationalisation, to discuss strengthening economic relations between Sharjah and Portugal.

The delegation was received by HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, chairman of the SCCI, in the presence of HE Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, directorgeneral of the Sharjah Chamber.

The visiting delegation included Marta Costa, the Portuguese Assistant Minister of state for globalisation; Francesca Guedes de Oliveira, deputy commissionergeneral of the Portuguese delegation participating in Expo 2020 Dubai; and Daniel Pontas, economic adviser at the Portuguese Embassy in the country.

The meeting explored the areas of cooperation between the two countries and the importance of organising joint programmes that serve the interests of their business communities, as well as a trade mission to Portugal in 2022, to enhance economic, trade and investment bilateral relations.

Al Owais welcomed the visiting delegation and pointed to the depth of relations between Sharjah and the Portuguese business community, thanks to the mutual visits of official and commercial delegations between Sharjah and Portugal, which culminated with the launch of the first Portuguese Business Council in Sharjah in January 2021, in addition to organising the SharjahPortugal Business Forum in cooperation with the Aicep Portugal Global last June.

The SCCI chairman showcased before the Portuguese delegation, Sharjah's economic growth and future projects across all sectors and invited Portuguese businessmen and companies to invest in Sharjah and participate in relevant international events, as they provide invaluable opportunities to forge partnerships with UAE companies and institutions.

AD Ports Group and GCPI Iraq sign MoU to promote investments

AD PORTS GROUP, one of the leading global drivers of trade and logistics, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI) to promote increased cooperation between the two organisations within the fields of transportation and maritime.

Set for an initial period of 12 months with a clause for automatic renewal, the MoU will see the exchange of expertise and best practices by both organisations. AD Ports Group will also conduct feasibility studies on the management and operation of the General Company for Ports of Iraq’s ports and economic zones and other infrastructure, while also exploring potential investment opportunities.

As part of its scope, AD Ports Group will also develop national infrastructure, such as roads and rail networks, which will connect Al Faw Ports in Iraq with markets in Jordan and Turkey, while simultaneously financing the feasibility studies stated in the MoU.

Suhail bin Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure in the UAE, commented, “In line with the wise leadership’s vision, the signing of this MoU exemplifies the UAE’s drive to enhance cooperation with sister Arab states. Leveraging the lessons learned as part of our nation’s pursuit to develop strategic sectors and build frameworks that contribute to the economic and social development of the UAE, we are transferring this invaluable knowledge to our kin in Iraq in order to support the formulation of a diverse and sustainable economy in Iraq.”

Nasser Hussein Al Shebly, Minister of transportation in Iraq, said, “It is our privilege to announce the start of this new cooperation with AD Ports Group. The MoU will serve as the starting point for future collaboration that will drive the development of a wide range of services, while also supporting investors across both our proud nations. It also sets the foundation to foster an Arab ports’ ecosystem that can cater to the increasing global demands of this sector and keep pace with ambitious plans of the governments in Iraq and the UAE.”

Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, group CEO, AD Ports Group, noted, “The signing of this strategic MoU with the General Company for Ports of Iraq is a vital step in the efforts to enhance our regional and global status within the maritime transportation and logistics industries. We are confident that the cooperation with Iraq will serve as the foundation of a promising future of success and developmental opportunities that will benefit both nations.”

The MoU aims to accelerate the UAE’s drive to enhance cooperation with sister Arab states.

Etihad Water and Electricity advances digital roadmap to enhance customer experiences

ETIHAD WATER AND Electricity (Etihad WE) has announced that it is embarking on the next phase of its digital transformation journey with global technology company SAP to optimise experiences for more than 1.3 million persons in the UAE.

As part of its digital transformation roadmap, Etihad WE will move all its business process workflows to SAP cloud in the UAE. This will help Etihad WE to achieve better levels of customer experience, optimise asset management and additional business processes, whilst promoting environmentally sustainable development.

Owned by the Emirates Investment Authority, Etihad WE, which provides electricity and desalinated water to the Northern Emirates, has already installed 30,000 smart meters, with the goal of installing 350,000 meters in the near future.

HE Mohammad Mohammad Saleh Abdulwahed is the director‐general of Etihad WE.

Photo Credit : Etihad WE